Over the next few days, the prince and I hardly saw one another.
It was the same routine every day. Isabella would wake me early in the morning, assist with bathing and dressing me in long, plain dresses, then took me down to have breakfast. The prince would be nowhere in sight. Not seeing him around was a good thing, right? But I had thought that being a blood servant meant that I would have to stay by his side all the time just in case he needed feeding, but here I was, alone while he was absent. Maybe he did not wish to be in my company, but why was I here if I was not to be used as a blood servant should?
The prince's absence had its peaks. I had never been inside a more elegant and beautiful place such as this in my life. I would spend the days roaming around the palace and admire its decor and design. Around noon, Isabella would come and look for me and escort me back to the large dining room for more food. Afterwards, I would explore more. Even spending three days inside the palace is not enough time to explore the whole place. It would take at least a week, but after knowing where everything is, I fear that I will grow tired of this place. That is something I do not wish to happen. Without the company of the prince, I did feel somewhat alone. And right now, I was the loneliest I had ever been. When I was at home, either hunting or gathering wood or water, it was heartwarming to know that my mother would be waiting for me. But here, I was alone with nobody to talk to.
"From all the rooms in the palace, this is where I find you."
I was cradling the amulet my mother gave me in my palm when I heard his voice. I had kept my promise of not taking the necklace off. Even washing myself, the amulet remained around my neck. This small piece of jewellery was the only thing keeping me close to my mother. I may not know its significance yet but it was a piece of her and that was enough to survive and one day get back to her.
I released the amulet and turned my gaze away from the gargantuan window in the dining room to the prince. "If I explore more, I fear that I will get lost. Besides, I have explored most of the palace already."
For three whole days, he had been scarce, with no sign of him at all in the palace. I had started to think that he had forgotten about me and was not coming back. Or one could only hope.
"Even the gardens?"
I raised an eyebrow. "The gardens?"
The prince nodded. "On a day like today you should be outside, soaking in the sun."
I remembered his words. "I thought I wasn't allowed to leave the palace?"
Alexander moves away from the door, slowly coming towards me. He stops beside me, his arm lightly brushes against mine and chuckles. "There is a garden located at the very end of the palace, which you're allowed to roam freely. I apologise, I should have been more clear about what there is for you to do here."
"Not to worry. My thoughts have kept me occupied."
Alexander smiled reassuringly. "I promise you, you'll never be bored here."
That I hated to admit, he was right.
Despite his kindness and well mannered behaviour towards me, I still despised him and his kind, but I had to admit that he was different from the others. Unlike them, Alexander was kind, patient and somewhat understanding, but he's still a monster. I must not forget that. He was a monster that could kill me at any moment and wouldn't be punished for it.
"Jane?"
"Yes?" I asked.
"Would you like to see the gardens?" He asked politely.
His words made me want to cheer in delight. I had not been outside for three whole days. Looking out the window is not the same as being out in the sun. I yearn to feel the hot sun on my skin and the wind blowing through my dark hair.
I take a deep breath, release and nod. "I would like nothing more."
The prince smiled softly down at me. "Very well. Follow me."
I leisurely followed behind the prince from the room, walked along a few hallways and finally down a few stairs. When we reach the double glass doors leading out to the gardens, I notice one of the guards trailing slowly behind us, gun in hand. No doubt if I was to try and escape, he would be the one to shoot me. And he would do it without any hesitation whatsoever.
The prince opens the doors, and immediately my eyes widen at the view of all the beautiful flowers in full bloom. The smell of the blossoming flowers was overwhelming as I took my first step out into the garden. I look around and see numerous flowers abound, all different kinds and different colours. There was lush, green foliage everywhere. Marble statues of men, women, even animals. To my right, a swing made of rope tied to a willow tree. To my left, a large, stone fountain with water coming from the very top and slowly running down to the circular pond at the bottom of it. I rush over to it, lean over to see the pond filled with different kinds of fish, big and small, each with different patterns and colours. As I walk out into the sun, the prince follows close at my heels while the guard remains by the double doors. As the prince follows me, I can't help but be reminded of what was once said to me the day before the auction.
"For someone who is in danger to sunlight, you seem very unfazed by the possibility of being burned alive." I faced the prince with a questioning look.
The last thing I expected the prince to do was to burst out laughing. His laughter catches me off guard as it fills the air. It was like a melody that captivated my senses, drawing me closer to its infectious charm. His eyes crinkled at the corners, sparkling with mirth, as a dimpled smile graced his handsome face. The sound was rich and resonant, carrying with it a warmth that enveloped me like a comforting embrace.
I frowned.
Was my question really that humorous?
The world faded away and all I could focus on was the sheer joy reflected in his laughter. It was as if time itself paused, allowing me to bask in the radiance of his presence. I couldn't help but join in, the sound of our laughter intertwine like threads in a tapestry, weaving together a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness.
"Who told you of such a thing?" His tone was full of amusement.
I looked away in embarrassment. "The whole village as it seems."
He arched a brow. "Is that so?"
I nodded as I continued along the path, the prince leisurely following behind. "The day before the auction, our priest seemed very adamant on revealing the vampires' deepest and darkest secrets to us."
He nodded. "As a survival mechanism, right?"
I shrugged. "Something like that."
The prince smiled. "Do you believe in everything that is said to you?"
"Not always, but if it means staying alive, then...." I trailed off.
The prince puts his hand on my lower back, pushing me deeper into the gardens. "Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you but whatever that priest told you, they're rumours."
"How would you know if they were rumours if you weren't there?"
"Our secrets are ours alone." He says simply.
Disappointment washes over me. "Oh."
"He was giving you all false hope. I could tell you our deepest and darkest secrets right now, if you wish?"
Was that wise?
I frowned. "Aren't you afraid that I'll use your secrets against you?"
Alexander smirked. "You could try."
I chuckle and nod at his previous question. "Tell me what there is to know about you."
"Very well. The saying that we are immortal beings is in fact true. I am over a hundred years old and still kicking. Unfortunately, we do not turn into bats or are affected by garlic. We do not die by a wooden stake to the heart. Silver and crosses do not affect us in the slightest, but getting our heads ripped off works...and fire of course. Sunlight is a bit of a pain in the backside and it does make us fairly weak but it does not burn us alive. That is purely a myth."
"What about holy water?"
"It's just water." Alexander muttered.
My shoulders sagged. "Everything that priest said was a lie."
"Indeed. Would you like to know something else?"
"Sure."
"We have superhuman strength, speed, stamina and agility. And we can also perform hypnosis, but it only works on humans."
I looked at him in panic and leaned away from him. "Hypnosis?"
He chuckled. "Don't worry, I will not use it on you. I very rarely use my powers these days."
I gawked at him. "That's a lot of information and it's probably best to keep to yourself. You know, for your own safety."
He nods in confirmation. "Indeed."
After taking in this new found information, the only thing I could bring myself to ask was. "Do you have fangs?"
As soon as the question leaves my mouth, out of nowhere Alexander retracts his fangs from what looked like they came from the upper gums. He shows them to me, revealing two sharp, shiny white front teeth. I gasp aloud in fascination and lean forwards to take a closer look. Just as I go to touch one of the fangs, Alexander retracts them, making me jolt.
"Quite the party trick, right?"
"Right." I shook my head in disbelief at what I'd learned and seen, then sat on the edge of the fountain. "Anything else?"
He pursed his lips. "There is one thing, but it's not been affirmed as of yet."
I stared blankly at him.
He exhaled deeply before answering. "It is believed that there is this...object of sorts that could wipe out the entire vampire race if used correctly. Phoenix believes that it exists but nobody has seen it or knows what it looks like."
"And...what do you believe?" I asked, curious to know his answer.
He smiled a little. "If it existed, I would've known about it or would have it in my grasp, but I have learnt to not believe everything Phoenix says."
My body went completely numb and my jaw unhinged. Holy heaven...what if this object truly existed? The human race would be saved and no human would ever have to be a servant again.
Alexander interrupts my thoughts. "So, how do you like the gardens?"
"It's beautiful." I said truthfully. "If only I knew this was here sooner."
I hear the prince chuckling as he comes to sit next to me. "Now you do. I'll probably find you here all of the time now."
"Maybe. Maybe not."
"What is that supposed to mean?"
I was too fascinated by the garden to answer the prince. It was magical like something out of a fairytale. Back at home, you wouldn't see anything as captivating as this. Ever. I had not seen the sun in a very long time. The last time I must have seen the sun was before the punishment was given out to us humans. Since then, the whole village felt it was surrounded by a grey cloud that hung miserably over us.
It seemed kind of fitting, doesn't it?
"Jane?"
I looked up at the bright, blue sky in fascination as I dip my fingers into the cold water. "Aren't you afraid that I'll one day escape?"
In the corner of my eye, I see the prince folding his muscular arms over his broad chest. "You've had three days to try and escape, yet you are still here."
I throw my shoulders back, thrust up my chin and narrow my big, blue eyes at him. "Your guards will kill me. You said so yourself."
Alexander eyes me curiously with a smile. "Humans really do believe everything that is said to them." He dropped his head, his smile vanishing. "They will not kill you, not if I command it."
"So perhaps maybe one day, I will escape."
"You really wish to return home, don't you?" He asked softly.
Sadness washes over me at the mention of home. No doubt that every single one of the humans wished to return back to their families. Myself was among them.
I nodded to his question. "More than anything."
The prince remains silent.
I remove myself from the fountain and came to stand in front of the prince, my hands folded before me. "May I ask you a question?"
"Of course, you may."
"Besides being your servant, what else is required of me?"
He tilts his head as he thinks. "What would you like to do?"
"I thought you could tell me considering I'm the one serving you."
He again thinks, but does not say anything.
"I've been your servant for three days, yet you have not asked me to do anything or drank from me. Why is that?"
It is not that I wish for him to feed from me, it's just that for three whole days he has not come near me or asked for my services. I have heard that vampires cannot go a day without blood, so surely by now he's starving but he looks as though he has been feeding. If he's not drinking from me, could he be feeding from someone else?
Why was he keeping me around if he did not plan on using me as his blood servant?
"Would you like me to drink from you? Is that what you want?"
I could not think of anything worse.
I make a sound of disgust at the back of my throat.
The prince turns towards me, his stare burning right through me. His hand wraps gently around my wrist, his touch scorching into my skin. He pulled my wrist up to his mouth. "Is that what you want, Jane?" He asked softly, his lips gently brushing against the skin on my wrist.
My breathing hitches as my heart beats rapidly inside my chest. "What are you doing?"
He slips his arm around my waist and pulls me up against his hard chest. "Would you like me to drink from you?"
I moved away from his grasp, took a step back and crossed my arms over my chest. "No, I do not, but it is not up to me. I am your blood servant and as much as it disgusts me to give you my blood, it is my duty."
A pause.
He squints his eyes at me. "You really hate our kind, don't you?"
"I don't hate your kind, I just hate this punishment. I mean, I'm getting punished for something that happened fifteen years ago. Something I wasn't even a part of. It's not fair!"
He agreed. "I know it's not fair."
"And for the rest of my life, I'll be feeding you all day and everyday until eventually I'll no longer be a part of this world. What kind of life is that?"
He looks at me reassuringly. "Do not look so distressed. I do not plan on drinking from you."
What? Why?
"You don't?"
He shakes his head. "No."
"Then, why do you have a blood servant if you don't plan on drinking from it?"
He sighed. "It's because of your mother. That's why."
My stomach dropped.
What?
I frown. "My mother?"
"Yes."
"What has she got to do with any of this?"
His nostrils flared as he answered. "Everything."